Striking clock



Jan. 20, 1931. E. c. HALL 1, 43

STRIKING CLOCK Original Filed July 9, 1928 fizz/006i a gag INVENTOR ATTORNEY WlTNESS Patented Jan. 20, 1931 v,uau'ran STATES PATENT- orrlcr ELWOOD C. HALL, OF VIENNA; NEW JERSEY STBIKING CLOCK Original application med July 9, 1828, Serial No. 291,320. Divided and this application fled November 5, 1929. Serial No.404,958

This invention relates to a striking clock, the present invention being a division of the application filed by me on July 9, 1928, Serial No. 291,320.

The general object of this invention is to provide ratchet means for controlling the operation of the striking train of the clock, with means for controlling the operation of the ratchet means by a snail or toothed cam on the hour arbor of the clock, so as to effect a progressive sequence of strikes for the successive hours and also to so arrange and construct the parts that the resetting of the hands will not interfere with the striking mechanism.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, il-

2 lustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying 2:; drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the invention, with sufiicient parts of the clock so to show the cooperation of the several parts, this figure showing the striking train held against movement.

Figure 2 is a similar View but showing the parts with the striking train in operative position.

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figure 2, but showing the parts in different positions.

Figure 5 is an end view as seen from the left side of Figure 1.

In these views, the numeral 1 indicates a disk placed on the minute arbor 2 of the clock and carr ing a notched pawl 3 which is normally be d against a pin 4 on the disk by a spring 5. An hour arbor 2' carries a snail or toothed cam 6 which is constructed as shown. An arbor 7 is rotatably arranged in the clock frame and carries the arms or wires 8, 9 and 10. The arm 8 carries Mi an arc-shaped rack 11 whichis provided with sixteen teeth which are adapted to be engaged by a pin 12 on the hub of a wheel 13 which forms part of the striking train of the clock. The arm 9 is formed with a flat part 9 which is adapted to engagela pin 14 on the wheel 13 and thus hold the wheel and, therefore, theistriking, train, in inoperative position, as shown inFigure 1. The arm 10 is formed with a book 10' for engaging the teeth of the cam 6. A holding pawl 15 is pivoted to part of the frame and engages theteeth of the rack to hold the same against retrograde movement when the rack is being lifted step by step by the pin 12 on the wheel 13. i

An arbor 17 is rotatably arranged in the frame and carries the arms or wires18, 19 and 20.. Thearm 20 has its free end adapt ed to be engaged by the pawl 3 once every revolution of the disk, which, of course, is once every hour, and when this occurs, the three-arm assembly will be lifted so that the arm 18 will engage the dog 15 and gradually raise the same ont ofengagement with the rack on the stroke of thehour, so that the rack and the assemblyarmss, 9-and10 will drop nntilthe book 10 of arm 10 strikes the cam 6. As the rack and the arms drop, the arm 9 will free the pin 14 so that the wheel 13 and the striking train can begin to operate and on each revolution of the wheel 13, the pin 12 will engage a tooth of the rack and lift the rackone step. A projection 21 is carried by one of the spokes of the wheel 13 and will engage the end of the arm 19 at the beginning of the movement of the wheel 13, which acts to lift the parts to a position where the arm 20 will be moved out of engagement with the dog 3 so that the spring of the dog can return to normal position and then the end of the arm 19- drops below the projection 18, so that the wheel can rotate.

Figure 1 shows the parts in inoperative position or in the postion they occupy after the striking operation has ceased. Then when-the dog 3 engages the arm 20;the arm 18 will move the holding dog 15 to releasing position and the arm 9 will be ositioned where its end can be engaged by v e projec- B tion 21. The rack 11 will then drop until the bent end of the arm 10 engages a step of the cam 6, as shown in Figure 2, and the arm 9 frees the wheel 13, so that said Wheel can begin to rotate. At the first part of this rotation, the projection 21 will engage the arm 19, and move the parts to a position where the arm 20 is out of engagement with the dog 3, so that the spring of the dog can return to its normal position, as shown in Figure 3. As the arm 19 is freed of the projection 21, the lever system drops to the position they 0c-' cupy in Figure, 4, and thus at each revolution of the wheel 13, the pin 12 will engage a tooth of the rack 11 and raise it one tooth and this will continue until the rack has been moved to the position it occupies in Figure 1, when the arm willengage the pin 14 and thus stop j further rotation of the wheel 13, so that the striking operation ceases, As will be understood, the position of the arm 10 on the cam 6 will control the amount of drop of the rack 11 and this, in turn, controls the number of strikes of the clock,.it being understood that each revolution of the wheel 13, which is connected with the striking train, will cause the striking mechanism to operate once. As will be understood, the rackll and its supporting means, with the Wire or arm 10 and the cam or snail, forms part of the mechanism now in use on Grandfather clocks.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip tion that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is'to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

. l/Vhat I claim is I 1. An interrupter for a striking clock, comprising'a dog on'the minute shaft of the time train, of the clock, a wire system actuated hourly thereby, a Wheel forming part of the alarm train of the clock, a projection on said wheel, a rack, a second wire system support ing the rack and comprising a part for en gaging said projection for holding said alarm train against movement and another part for engaging a snail, a holding dog forthe' rack, means whereby a part of the first wire system will move the holding dog to releasing position when the Wire system is actuated, a snail on the time movement for engaging said snail engaging part of the second wire system, a projection on awheel of the alarm systemfor engaging another part of the first wire system for releasing the dog on the minute shaft from its engaging member and a pin on the hub of the alarm gear for engaging theteeth of the rack. 1

2. In combination with a clock including its alarm train and time train, a wheel connected with the alarm train, a pin on the hub of the Wheel, a pin on the rim of the wheel and a projection on a spoke of the wheel, an assembly of three arms pivotally arranged in the clock, a rack carried by one arm, the end of the second arm being adapted to engage the pin on the rim for holding the wheel and the alarm system against movement, a snail connected with the time train, the third arm of thesystem being adapted to engage said snail, a second assembly of three arms pivotallysupported in the clock, a holding dog for the rack, a pivoted dog on the minute shaft engaging one of the arms of the second system for raising the arms to cause one arm to inove the holding dog'to releasing position and another arm into the path of the projection, on the spoke whereby the third arm will be moved out of engagement with the dog on the minute shaft, the pin on the hub engaging the teeth of the rack for moving the rack step by step at each revolution of the wheel until the before mentioned second arm of the first assembly engages the pinon the rim of the wheel to prevent further movement of the wheel, the engagement of the snail with the third arm of the first assembly regulating the distance the rack drops when the holding dog is moved to releasing position. v V

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 7

' v ELWOOD C. HALL. 

